The US National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) has initiated an investigation into approximately 2.88 million Tesla electric vehicles that feature the company’s “Full Self-Driving” (FSD) technology. This probe, initially reported by Reuters, follows more than 50 reported instances of traffic safety violations and various accidents associated with the FSD system.
### Investigation Details
The NHTSA, responsible for maintaining national motor vehicle safety standards, indicated that interactions with Tesla’s FSD software have potentially led to violations of traffic laws. Reports detail incidents where vehicles have run red lights and operated against oncoming traffic. Notably, several complaints describe situations where a Tesla with FSD approached a red signal, proceeded through the intersection, and subsequently collided with other vehicles.
### Potential Outcomes of the Probe
This investigation will start as a preliminary evaluation. Depending on its findings, the NHTSA could issue a recall if it determines that these vehicles present a significant safety risk to the public.
### Ongoing Investigations
The NHTSA’s scrutiny of Tesla is not a new development; the agency has opened multiple investigations into the automaker this year alone. Earlier this year, inquiries were launched into Tesla’s Smart Summon feature, which allows users to remotely navigate their vehicles from parking spots. Recently, another investigation was announced regarding the 2021 Model Y, focusing on door handle functionality that may endanger passengers.
### Tesla’s Safety Record
Despite the NHTSA’s concerns, Tesla maintains that their FSD technology results in significantly fewer accidents per million miles driven compared to when the system is disabled. However, the company has requested that specific crash data involving FSD be withheld from public access, citing confidentiality issues.
The NHTSA’s investigation underscores ongoing concerns over the safety and regulatory compliance of advanced driver-assistance systems in the rapidly evolving electric vehicle market.
